Packer



"May 2, 1939 R. E. FULKERSON PACKER Filed March 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fZl/ke 50/1 I i I r: FFzE:

ATTORN EY dinarily used in open holes where there is no well Patented May 2, 1939 PATENT OFFICE" moxnn Richard E. Fulkerson, Coffeyville, Kans., assignor to The Exner-Dodge Packer Company, Cofleyville, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application March 29, 1937, Serial N0. 133,611

7 Claims.

This invention relates to packers, and particularly to those known as wall packers, used in packing off upper and lower portions of a well hole.

Packers of this character usually consist of a single unit, including a plurality of slips that are wedged against the wall of the well so that the packing element and pipe carried therefrom are dependent upon the slips for their support. For this reason, packers of this character are not orcasing. because the size and imperfect conditions of the open hole do not provide sufficient contact of the slips to support the weight and resist thrusts imparted incidental to well operations. Owing to the fact that this type of packer can be set at a definite point, it is otherwise suitable for packing off upper and lower formations in an open hole, for example upper gas stratum from a lower oil producing stratum, which are very close together. In this instance, the packing element must be accuratelyplaced, and if necessary relocated until the packing is effectively positioned. However, even if the wall formation is hard and round enough to provide suflicient grip for the slips, the shallow spacing between the formations to be separated frequently will not accommodate the length of the packer.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a packer of this character constructed so that the packing elementmay be located at the desired point in the well or open hole, with the slips or supporting mechanisms located within and gripping the inner face of to provide a packer construction of this character that is simple and relatively easy to set, and.

whichmay be readily released, to be raised or lowered, in case the desired packing action has not been attained with the first setting.

Other important objects are to eifect substan tially simultaneous setting of the supporting slips with the packing element; and to provide the packer with means for effecting slidable seal with the tubing that is associated therewith.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as, hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a portion of an oil well equipped with a wall type packer embodying the features of the present invention.

tional practice. The bore hole extending below Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through the well and slip end of the packer prior to setting of the slips with the well casing.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the lower end of the packer before expanding of the packing element 5 into packing contact with the wall of the open hole.

Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but showing the slips in set condition and grippingly engaging the casing to support the packing element. l

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 3, but showing the packing element in expanded condition and packingly engaging the wall of the open hole.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3, showing the lugs which control expansion of the packing elements in latched position.

Fig. 8 is a similar cross-section on the line 88 of Fig. 5, showing the lugs in unlatched position to effect expansion of the packing element.

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view ofthe packing expanding control element.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates the bore hole of an oil well extending from the surface of the earth through a cap' rock 2 into oil and gas producing formations 3 and 4 respectively, the formations 3 and 4 being separated by a non-producing formation 5 which may be of relatively shallow depth. The bore hole is cased above the cap rock 2 by the usual casing 6, having a shoe 1 supporting the weight thereof upon the cap rock, as in conventhe cap rock is uncased and known in oil field parlance as open hole. In the instance illustrated, it is necessary to pack off the well between the formations 3 and 4 to control the flow of the gas separately from the oil, so that the oil when discharged contains a minimum amount of gas, and the gas flow is free of entrained liq-- uid." This necessitates that a packing be set within the formation 5-to separate the gas coming from the upper formation and keep it apart from the oil being produced by the lower formation.

A conventional wall packer would be most convenient for this purpose, but as above pointed out, 50 the size and/or irregularity of the open hole, together with the crumbling nature of the formation, makes the use of slips dimcult or entirely impracticable, and particularly where the formation 5 is so thin that it will not accommodate the combined length of the packing element and slips.

In carrying out the present invention, I have provided a packer 8, including a packing element 9, that may be successfully expanded to packingly engage the formation 5, and which is supportingly retained by slips l0 engaged within the casing 6, as now to be described.

The packer includes sections of tubing II and I2 on which the packing element and slip mounting members are respectively mounted for sliding a movement thereon. The slip mounting member includes a section of pipe l3 of larger diameter than the tubing,and of sufiicient length to accommodate a slip carrying sleeve I4 that is freely slidable thereon. Formed on the upper end of the pipe I3 is a head! 5 having an inverted frusto-conical slip engaging face I5 merging from the peripheral surface of the pipe to a cylindrical collar portion Il having an axial opening l8.

therein to slidably pass the tubing II. The head thus forms a wedging element adapted to enter the slips and force them outwardly into contact with the wall of the casing, as later described.

The slip carrying sleeve I4 is of smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the casing to accommodate drag springs I9 which comprise flat leaves having their lower ends welded or otherwise attached to the lower end of the sleeve, as shown at 20, and which have their intermediate portions 2| bowed outwardly to frictionally drag upon the casing. The upper ends of the springs extend inwardly in the direction of the pipe l3 to guidingly bear thereupon through notches 22 that are formed in the upper end of the sleeve. The drag springs are arranged symmetrically about the periphery of the sleeve, and are of sufficient number to retain the packer centered within the casing. Welded to the sleeve, as in dicated at 23, are resilient slip supporting reins 24, having their upper ends 25 projecting above the sleeve to support the slips I 0, there being one slip attached to each of the reins.

Each slip l0 includes an arcuate segment of suflicient width to cooperate with the other slips in forming a substantiallycontinuous gripping surface circumferentially of the packer. The outer surfaces of the slips have wickers or teeth 25 to grip the casing, and the inner surfaces 21 conform to the taper of the head I5. The reins 24 have sufficient spring action to normally retain the slips in contracted position and against the pipe or lower end of the head so that they will normally pass freely through the casing without dragg g thereon.

Secured to the lower end of the sleeve l4 in lapping relation with the pipe l3, are diametrically spaced hooks 28, each having downwardly converging side edges 29 and 30 forming triangular shaped ways 3| and 32 between the adjacent side edges of the hooks to guide diametrically arranged gudgeons 33 and 34 on the pipe l3 into lateral slots 35 of the hooks. The slots terminate in gudgeon seats or safety notches 3'! that extend slightly below the lower edges thereof to accommodatethe gudgeons when the hooks are engaged therewith, as later described.

The supporting means for the packing element 9 also includes a pipe section 38, conforming in diameter to the pipe section I3, and of suflicient length to accommodate the packing element. The packing element 9 consists of a sleeve formed of resilient material and adapted to returnto its original shape after being expanded into sealing contact with the well hole. The packing element is sleeved over the pipe and the lower end 39 thereof abuts against a cap member 40, which is threaded upon the lower end of the pipe and carries a packing box 4| for passing the lower end of the tubing section II.

In the illustrated instance, the packing box 4| has a packing chamber 42 containing resilient packing material 43 that is compressed against the tubing II by a packing gland 44. The packing gland'44 has alateral flange 45 provided with openings 46 to pass the threaded ends of stud bolts 41 welded onto the cap member. The threaded ends of the stud bolts are provided with nuts 48, whereby the packing gland is drawn into contact with the sealing material'to effect a sliding seal about the tubing. The upper end of the packing sleeve carries a collar or expanding ring 49, having a depending tubular portion 50 to which the packing sleeve is rigidly attached. The collar 49 is of suitable inner diameter to be freely slidable on the pipe section 38, and is of outer diameter to substantially conform to the normal diameter of the packing sleeve, as best shown in Fig. 3. Formed in the inner surface of the collar is a circumferential groove 5i. Formed in the wall of the, pipe section 39 are bayonet slots 54 which have their upper portions conforming in height to that of the groove. The narrow portions 55 of the slots are offset laterally from one side of the'enlarged portions to leave lug engaging shoulders 56 sloping upwardly toward the slot portions 55.. Welded on the tubing II is a collar 51 having radial lugs 58 normally extending through the enlarged portions of the slots and into the annular groove 5|. The lugs are of sufiicient width so that they may pass through thenarrow portions 55 of the bayonet slots, and the slots are of suflicient length to allow ample movement of the lugs to effect expansion of the packing sleeve to the desired diameter, as hereinafter described.= For example, when the packing element is in contracted position, as shown in Fig. 3, the lugs 58 lie within the enlarged portion of, the slots with the sloping lower edges 59 resting upon the shoulders 56. When in this position, the lugs lock the tubing,

,the pipe section 38 and the packing element against relative longitudinal movement. However, when the tubing is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 7) the lugs 58 are moved to bring them in registry with the narrow portions 55 of the slots, then when the tubing is moved downwardly relatively to the packing element, the lugs ride through the narrow portions of the slots to press upon the collar 49 and effect expansion of the packing element.

In order to assemble the parts just described the collar 49 is formed of upper and lower members "69 and 6! respectively, that are welded together, as at 62 after the lugs 58 have been inserted in the portion of the groove 5| that is carried in the lower'section 9|. The parts thus described are standard for packers embodying my invention, however, the spacing between the slips and the packing element must conform to the conditions encountered in the well. This distance is determined by the location of the point 'to be packed, for example the formation 5, and the location in the casing at which the slips are to be set. When this distance has been determined, sufficient tubing 93 is connected with the portions of tubing II and I2 by suitable couplings 94 and 65, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Suflicient pipe 66, corresponding in diameter to the pipe sections l3 and 38, is inserted and coupled by means lower end of the expanding head I5, and the packing element 9 forms a continuous cylinder between the collar 49 and the cap member 48 so that they do not interfere with running of the packer through the casing. The two body sections are thus joined together to make the whole device a single ,unit.

When using the packer, the entire unit is lowered into the well by means of the tubing until it has reached the desired setting point. This is accomplished by lengthening the tubing string in the usual manner. When the packing element has arrived at the desired setting point the tubing string is turned to the left, raising the tubing slightly while turning. This removes the gudgeons 33 and 34 from the safety notches 31 in the slots of the hooks. The drag or friction springs I9, acting upon the casing, retain the slip carrying sleeve l4 from radial or longitudinal movement, so that as soon as the gudgeons clear the slots 35, the pipe section 13, aided by the weight of the parts suspended from it, settles downwardly within the slip carrying sleeve 14 to bring the slip expanding head l into wedging engagement with the slips l0, thereby forcing them outwardly into gripping engagement with the wall of the casing. During rotation of the tubing, the lugs 58 are moved out of engagement with the stop shoulders 56, so that they then register with the narrow portions 55 of the slots. Therefore, further lowering of the tubing will cause the lugs 58 to move downwardly in the narrow portions of the slots, and since they engage against the bottom of the groove 5| in the collar 48, the downward pressure effects lateral expansion of the packing element against the wall of the well hole. During this movement of the tubing, it slides in the packing box 4| that is carried by the cap member 40 which has had its movement arrested upon engagement of the slips.

If, after setting of the packer, it is found that the packing element is set too high to effect the proper packing action, the tubing may be lifted until the lugs 58 again register with the enlarged portions of the bayonet sl ots 54, and the gudgeons 33 and 34 with the lateral slots 35' of the hooks M and 28 on the slip carrying sleeve l4. During this movement the lugs 58 engage the upper side of the groove 5| so that lift of the tubing effects elongationof the packing to its original length.

The wedging head has also been moved out of wedging engagement with the slips Ill to release them from the casing. Rotation of the pipe to the right will then cause the gudgeons to engage the safety notches 31 of the hooks and the lugs 58 to engage the large portions of the bayonet slots for seating on the shoulders 56. The tubing may then be set at a lower lever, as above deseal an open hole since the slip portion of the packer is firmly and securely anchored within the casing.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A packer including an upper tubular member, a slip carrier on the upper tubular member, slips on said slip carrier, a slip expanding head on the upper tubular member, means selectively connecting the upper tubular member with the slip carrier to prevent relative movement of the slip carrier with said tubular member, a lower tubular member having bayonet slots, a packing element sleeved on the lower tubular member and'having one end anchoringly engaged with said lower tubular member, a setting ring connected with the other end of the packing element and having lug engaging portions, a tubing slidablethrough said tubular members, a collar on the tubing having lugs extending through the bayonet slots and into engagement with said lug engaging portions for latchingly connecting the tubing with said lower tubular member to normally prevent relative movement therewith, said tubing being rotatable in said members to release the slip carrier and said setting ring to effect setting of the slips and expansion of the packing element incidental to relative longitudinal movement of the tubing in said tubular members, and means on the slip carrier for preventing relative movement thereof incidental to movement of the tubing during setting of the slips and expansion of the packing element. g

2, A packer including gripping means, a packing element, means connectingly suspending the packing element from the gripping means and having a bayonet slot, means connected with the suspending means for actuating the gripping means, means selectively connecting the gripping means with the connecting means to normally prevent actuation of the gripping means, a packer setting member, and a lug carried by the packing setting member and extending through said bayonet slot to connect with the packing element, said setting me mber being rotatably mounted to move said lug: in the bayonet slot and effect disconnection of the gripping means with the suspending means for setting of the gripping means and ex pansion of the packing element.

3. In combination with a bore-hole having an upper cased portion and a lower uncased portion, a packer for packing off selected formation horizons with the uncased portion of the bore-hole including a tubular body of sufficient length to extend from a point: in the cased portion of the bore-hole to a point in the uncased portion which is to be packed, casing gripping means on the upper end of said tubular body, means including a tubing extending through said tubular body for setting and releasing said casing gripping means for suspendingly supporting said tubular body in said cased portion, a packing element carried on the lower end of said tubularbody, and means including said tubing for expanding and contracting said packing element to and from packing relation with the uncased portion of the bore-hole whereby the packer is adapted to be set and reset at different elevations in the borehole until the most effective location of the packing element is found with respect to saidformation horizons.

4. In combination with a bore-hole having an upper cased portion and .a lower uncased portion, a packer for packing off selected formation horizons within the uncased portion of the bore-hole I portion,

including a tubular body of sufflcient length to extend from a point in the cased portion of the bore-hole to a point to be packed in the uncased portion, casing gripping means on the upper end of said tubular body, means including a tubing extending through said tubular body for setting and releasing said casing gripping means for suspendingly supporting said tubular body in said cased portion; a packing element carried on the lower end of said tubular body, means including said tubing for expanding and contracting said packing element to and from packing relation with the uncased portion of the bore-hole whereby the packer is adapted to be set and reset at different elevations in the bore-hole until the most effective location of the packing element is found with respect to said formation horizons, and a stufling box carried by the lower end of the tubular body and sealingly engaging the tubing.

5. In combination with a bore-hole having an upper cased portion and a lower uncased portion, a packer for packing ofi selected formation horizons within the uncased portion of the bore-hole, including a tubular body of suillcient length to extend from a point in the cased portion of the bore-hole to a point to be packed in the uncased portion, casing gripping means adapted to be set incidental to movement of the tubular body, an expandable packing element sleeved on the lower end of said tubular body and having one end anchored thereto, packing element expanding means slidably supported on the tubular body and connected with the opposite end of the packing element, a tubing extending through said tubular body, packing means slidably sealing the lower end of the tubular body with said tubing, and means on said tubing having connection with said' packing element expanding means and latched engagement with said tubular body to rotate said tubular body in effecting connection and disconnection of said casing gripping means with said body to effect expansion and contraction of said casing gripping means to and from gripping engagement with said cased portion incidental to reciprocation of the tubing with respect to the tubular body and for expanding and contracting said packing element to and from packing contact with the uncased portion of the bore-hole, whereby the packer is adapted to be set and reset at different elevations in the borehole until the horizon to be packed has been located.

6. In combination with a bore-hole having an upper cased portion and a lower uncased portion, a packer for packing oif selected formation horizons within the uncased portion of the bore-hole, including a tubular body of sufficient length to extend from a point in the cased portion of the bore-hole to a point to be packed in the uncased expandable casing gripping means sleeved on the upper end of said body, means fixed on said body for expanding said gripping means, means selectively interconnecting the casing gripping means with said body to prevent relative axial movement of said casing gripping means with the tubular body when raising or lowering the packer in the bore-hole and re.- leasable upon rotation of the tubular body in one direction, an expandable packing element slee ed on the lower end of said tubular body and ha ng one end anchored thereto, packing element expanding means slidably supported on the tubular body and connected with the opposite end of the packing element, a tubing extending through said tubular body, packing means slidably sealing the lower end of the tubular body with said tubing, and means on said tubing having connection with said packing element expanding means and latched engagement with said tubular body to rotate said tubular body in efiecting connection and disconnection of said casing gripping means with said body to efiect expansion and contraction of said casing-gripping means to and from gripping engagement with said cased portion incide'ntal to reciprocation of the tubing with respect tothe tubular body and for expanding and contracting said packing element'to and from packing contact with the uncased portion of the bore-hole whereby the packer is adapted to be v set and reset at diflferent elevations in the borehole to locate the horizon to be packed.

7. In combination with a bore-hole having an upper cased portion and a lower uncased portion, a packer for packing off selected formation horizons within the uncased portion of the bore-hole, including a tubular body of sufllcient length to extend from a point in the cased portion of the bore-hole to a point to be packed in the uncased portion, expandable slips, a slip carrier sleeved on the upper end of said body, friction means on said slip carrier adapted to frictionally engage said cased portion, slip expanding means fixed on said body, means selectively interconnecting the slip carrier with said body to prevent relativl: axial movement of said slips with respect to the tubular body when raising or lowering the packer in the bore-hole and releasable upon rotation of the tubular body in one direction, an expandable packing element sleeved on the lower end of said tubular body and having one end anchored thereto, packing element expanding means slidably supported on the tubular body and connected with the opposite end of the packing element, a tubing extending through said tubular body, packing means slidably sealing the lower end of the tubular body with said tubing, and means on said tubing having connection with said packing element expanding means and latched engagement with said tubular body to rotate said tubular body in eflecting connection and disconnection of said slip carrier with said body to effect move- .ment of said slips to and from gripping engagement with said cased portion incidental to reciprocation of the tubing with respect to the tubular body and for radially expanding and contracting said packing element to and from packing contact with the uncased portion of the borehole, whereby the packer is adapted to be set and reset at diiferent elevations in the bore-hole in locating the horizon to be packed.

RICHARD E. FULKERSON. 

